Iowa Legislature Passes HIV Decriminalization Bill

SF Gate reported that on May 1, the Iowa Legislature sent the governor a measure to sign that will lessen the penalties for individuals who expose others to HIV unknowingly without the intention of infecting them. The House passed the bill, which the Senate approved in February, before it adjourned for the year. The measure changes a current law that stipulates if an individual exposes someone to HIV without their consent, then they can be convicted of a felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison. The bill also institutes more general rules about infectious diseases, making individuals eligible for 25-year sentences only if they transmit a disease intentionally without someone's knowledge.

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